Abby woke up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. It was the best sleep she had in quite a while, and she had Tim to thank for it. Tim. She smiled. She felt his soft breath on her neck, and his arm was still wrapped protectively around her. She gently turned around to face him and rained soft kisses on his lips and cheek while she gently tunneled her hands through his hair.
Tim opened his eyes and smiled."Morning sleepyhead" Abby teased, smiling back.
"Morning. Did you have a good sleep?"
"Yes I did, Tim. Thank you so much. I've slept better here than I have in days." She got up reluctantly to head to her room to get ready for work.
"I'm glad you slept well. I did too." Tim was relieved he was finally able to return to work. What Abby had told him last night was still nagging at him. What did Gen Tech want with Abby? A thought entered his mind, and he didn't like it one bit. Of course they would want her for her forensic knowledge. And then, when they were done with her- he didn't even want to go there. He knew one thing. Abby wouldn't be able to survive the torture they had put him through. So he had to do anything possible to prevent those bastards from getting their hands on her.
He brushed his teeth and took a shower,then got dressed in black slacks and a nice dress shirt for work. He grabbed his go bag and checked to make sure his laptop was there, he couldn't forget that. There were things he wanted to check before telling Gibbs and Borden of his suspicions. He wanted to make sure they were founded, but he would tell them about Abby.
Abby was standing in his door frame, looking at him like a cat licking its chops at a bowl of cream. Uh oh. She had the look. He knew it well. Abby had him in her sights, and he was the target.
"Wow Tim! Looking great! But you always do."
"You're the one who always looks great Abbs. How come You're wearing one of my t shirts?"
"I like wearing your tees, Tim. First time you've noticed?" Abby smirked.
"First time I've noticed what?" Tim smiled.
Abby loved it when Tim smiled. She noticed he hadn't been smiling much lately. But she knew he was very concerned about the case and helping his team solve it.
"Well, Tim, every now and then I "borrow" one of your t shirts. This one I have on I like borrowing the most. Wanna know why?"
"Do I want to know?" He asked in a teasing tone.
"Because Timmy, your scent is on I know this sounds foolish, maybe sappy but- she blushed- it's like you're hugging me in the lab when you're not there. And when I'm by a mirror I see your name instead of MIT. And it helps. And I think you're very masculine and sexy."
"Abby, sexy is not a word to describe me. Try geek, nerd, or-" Abby flew at him so fast all he could think of was to to back away and ended up with his back against the wall. He was so shocked at her move he didn't finish what he was going to say.
"What did you say, Tim?" Abby said, standing in front of him, hands on hips.
"Um, that,uh- sexy is not a word-"
Abby put a finger to his mouth. No, Tim, don't you dare! And why not?"
"Why-what?"
"Why can't a guy who's loving, kind, caring, and has a brilliant mind be sexy? And do not say it's because you're a nerd or geek either!"
"Okay. If not because of that, then, well, look at me. My looks don't exactly scream sexy."
"Really, Tim? You prefer to listen to and believe those shallow, insensitive, jealous bullies and jerks - assholes who say such things and put others down to make themselves look good. As if that works. They look more like jackasses when they do that. I wonder how they really feel when they wake up and find out that their so called "cool" friends have abandoned them and they are left all alone without a true friend in the world. Sad, really."
"Uh, Abby- you really think that?"
"Think what, Tim?"
"That I'm -um -" Tim blushed as he continued- "sexy?"
"Of course Tim! Look at you! You always know what to wear and what looks good for you. And your brilliant mind! Not to mention kind, caring, honorable, very noble and sexy qualities Tim! When you talk tech,that's sexy too and a major turn on! And your creativity. I want to explore that further, but later, since we're taking things slow." Abby smiled cheekily at him. She slowly reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck as she rained soft kisses on his lips.
"Um, Abby, um- you're not-"
"Not what, Tim? Exploring? Oh, yes, but just your mouth for now. I don't think we've shared a proper kiss. Time for that to change," she said as she gently placed her lips on his. She felt his arms wrap around her waist as he gently kissed her back. She took her time and slowly deepened the kiss, as she ran her tongue along his bottom lip she loved so well. She coaxed Tim to do the same, and he got the hint and gave her what she wanted. He deepened the kiss with his tongue as he molded her body closer to his. He couldn't stop a moan from escaping. Abby was enjoying the kiss too. She tunneled her hands through Tim's hair, then gave him one last kiss as she reluctantly parted from him and his toe curling french kisses. Damn! Could that man kiss or what? She thought.
"Um-wow!" Was all she could manage to say. Tim's kisses had left her practically breathless as well as speechless. "Um- I'll see ya later?"
"Okay." Tim was just as affected by the kisses as Abby was. He took a deep breath to calm down, then checked himself quickly in the mirror to make sure he was presentable before heading off to work.
It was cold. So very cold. And the cage was cramped, too small for any human being. He could barely even lie down comfortably. He curled into a ball. Why was this happening? What was going on? Why were he and others in some strange laboratory? Where were his team mates? Didn't they care that he as well as other Agents were missing? Didn't they want to find him and the others? Were they even trying? No, probably not. They had more important cases to solve than to worry about some missing Agents.
He could hear the other cries around him. Others in cages, trapped as he was. People in white lab coats doing things,horrible things. Beatings and pumped full of strange drugs occurred daily. To him. To the others. Experiments, they called it. No, it was torture. Some begged them to stop. But they kept going. Kept getting them to shift. Kept them pumped full of drugs and doled out beatings so they couldn't fight back. Bunch of labrat cowards, the lot of them. If he had his way, they would be in these cages, getting experimented on. Drugged, beaten. Let them have a dose of their own medicine, he thought.
Suddenly, a blood curdling scream resonated throughout the room. He put his hands over his ears, as he curled into an even tighter ball, shaking his head side to side as he kept repeating, no, no, no, no! He knew his turn was coming soon. He didn't know how much more he could take. Sometimes,he wished for death. Actually, almost every minute of the day. A rescue seemed a lost hope, and death would be so much better than staying in this place. Another scream. He tried to stop them, but the tears kept coming. He cried for himself and the others. He was pretty sure that by now they were beyond help, or hope.
He heard the clink of his cage door opening, then, a hand reached out to drag him out. It was his scream that resonated throughout the room this time...
Angela walked into the lab, ready for another work day. She was surprised, yet happy at what she was seeing and hearing. Abby was bouncing around her lab happily, Rob Zombie's metal music playing on her stereo. Angela smiled. She was glad to see Abby in a much happier mood than she'd been in lately. She wondered if it had anything to do with Tim. She put on her lab coat and walked over to Abby.
"Morning Abby.I'm pleased to see you smiling and playing your metal music again."
Abby gave Angela a hug. "Oh, it's a wonderful morning sis! I have something TO smile about! Things are looking up!"
"Well, then, I'm happy for you! What's the happy occasion?"
"Oh Angela! I got to spend some time with Timmy! To be honest, after the night that the intruder invaded my backyard, I still felt uneasy, and I still do, that someone is still watching me. But now, after spending time with Tim, I admit I feel so much better! I told him how I felt, and that I felt I was still being watched, and now I will be staying with him for a while. But for protection detail," she said as she rolled her eyes.
"Well, Abby, I think that's a wonderful start! Isn't it?"
"Oh, yes, Angela, it is! We had a nice time! I brought a late lunch, we watched Mystery Science Theatre, and I got to spoon with him. Sis, that made me feel so safe, and cared for! Tim was very concerned with my feelings and he still is. He believes there is someone still after me."
"That's a valid possibility Abby. That Dunbar person seemed-creepy-perverted.I heard Esposito, Hugh, and Mark talk about his capture and DiNozzo's and Esposito's interrogation. I'm glad he's behind bars. I shudder to think there are others out there just as sick and perverted as he is. I'm glad you have Tim to be there for you."
"Oh, me too! But.."
Angela sighed. And tried to look and sound stern as she asked "Why is there a but, Abby?"
Abby grinned. "Gotcha worried there for a sec, didn't I?"
"Abby!"
"Okay, okay, I've got to make a decision."
"Abby!" Angela stomped her foot in frustration, but couldn't resist smiling. She couldn't stay mad at her sis for long.
"Okay, okay, Tim wants me to really think hard about what I told him last night. I told him I was ready to have a relationship with him, I want to be with him, but take things slow. He agreed, but stipulated I had to really really think long and hard on it. To be a hundred percent sure it's what I want.I told the stubborn bullhead it's what I want, and I'm not changing my mind, but he still wants me to think about it. Is it because deep down, he might not believe me or something?"
"Don't you see, Abby? It's not that he doesn't trust you, or believe you, but your track record speaks for itself. You have been known to change your mind, and he just wants to be sure this is what you truly want.I have no doubt it's what he wants, but he doesn't want to force you to be with him, or play the "You're my lifemate- so you have to be with me because we're destined and were chosen to be together by the fates card. He wants to give you your free will, and the freedom of choice.
Oh, Abby! He wants your decision to come from your heart. To come from you yourself. He wants to make sure you want him, will love him, for himself, just as much as he does you. He needs that Abby. Once he's assured of that, you will see what I and everyone else does. He wants the same unconditional love from you for himself that he has for you."
"Oh! I see! He wants me to accept him as he is- I want to, but, what if-"
"What, Abby?"
"Okay, I do that, and he expects me to change?"
"What do you mean?"
"What if he can't accept the fact that I'm not a typical housewife,there might not be a homemade meal waiting all the time when he comes home? What if he wants that, Angela?"
Angela walked over to Abby and put her hands on her shoulders. "Abby. Look at me. I think you got Tim all wrong. From what I've seen of him interacting with you, I don't believe he'll expect anything from you you can't give willingly, nor do I believe he wants you to change who you are. I truly believe he loves you unconditionally, Abby. If you're not sure, I'm sure that when you have some time you can discuss your fears with him, and he will listen and assure you that you have nothing to worry about."
"Really?"
"Yes, Abby! Give Tim some credit. Give him a chance to tell you his feelings, and do the same for him. I promise you will feel better and relieved afterwards. And he'll be too, I'm sure."
Abby hugged Angela. "Thanks, sis."
"You're welcome," she answered as she hugged back."Don't worry. I know for certain he already accepts you as you are. Give him a chance to prove that to you, Abby."
"Okay. I'll try it your way. Thanks again, sis. I feel even more better than I did this morning. You're right. Tim can be reasonable, and he's a great listener. He listened and believed me when I told him my fears of being watched."
"And you still believe it?"
"That I'm being watched- yes. But this time, I'm not alone. I have Tim to protect me. And the Vikirnovs are still keeping an eye on my place. I've got the best security system installed in my home. Not to mention from any Vikirnov while I'm there too. Same at Tim's place. And I feel safer there, because of Tim."
"I'm sure Tim will figure out who's trying to go after you this time, and he'll be caught just like Dunbar. Everything will work out Abby, you'll see."
"I'm sure you're right, Angela." Abby smiled and tried to look confident, but inside, she wasn't so sure. She had a funny feeling that this time, they would succeed in capturing her. She still wondered why the people from Gen Tech were so interested in her. She bit her lip to keep from crying. She wanted Tim. She needed one of his hugs.
"So, Angela, what was it you needed help on?"
Tim was happy to be back at his desk in the squadroom. He felt like he'd been gone longer than just two days. He booted up his computers, and he pulled out his laptop from his bag and booted that up too. It felt good to be back at work again. He smiled.
Tony entered the squadroom and made a beeline for Tim's desk."Well, whadda ya know? The McProdigal Probie FINALLY comes back!"
Tim rolled his eyes and chuckled. "Really, Tony? Must you be so melodramatic?"
"Of course! You tell anyone I'll deny it, but - I have missed you probie!"
"Thanks Tony. And congrats on bagging Dunbar. Thank you for getting him, by the way. I'll thank Esposito too when I see him. I heard you two hit it off pretty well."
"Yeah,we did. I bet Abby's glad Dunbar's behind bars. She must be relieved."
"Well Tony, now that you mention it- she still feels that she's being watched, that someone's still after her. I told her she could stay with me for protection detail of course, until we find out if anyone's still pursuing her."
"I guess it was too good to be true. Thinking only Dunbar was after her.I don't like it, especially if she's right. Geez, these Gen Tech loonies make the mentally ill look sane."
"Told you so. Told you they were scientific whack jobs. They must be stopped, Tony. And I'm not talking just prison, or anything like that. Permanently stopped. As in never being able to operate ever again stopped."
"The only way for that to happen would be..."
"As unpleasant as that sounds to have to be the ones to make that happen, it's the ONLY sure way they'll never harm anyone. Ever."
Tim didn't like the look Tony gave him. Tony was looking at him as if he was some Alien entity that suddenly appeared from the X Files.
"Wow, Probie. Never figured you had that kind of killer instinct."
"Well, Tony, being the recipient of torture and experiments by those f'n bastards sorta changes your perspective. Even Geeks have dark sides when they're pushed to the point beyond endurance. Now they want Abby. That pisses me off. Royally."
"Um, yeah, McGee, that goes without saying."
Tony was in shock at this side of McGee. He just couldn't picture timid Tim carrying a big ass rifle and pulling a Rambo. It was laughingly ridiculous, but, then,not really ridiculous at all. In some twisted way he couldn't even understand himself, he COULD picture it in his head, and that was a very scary thought.
"Tony, quit staring at me like I'm some weird alien from the X files. You may not want to admit it, but deep down, you know I'm right."
"About what, McGee?" Gibbs asked, as he headed to his desk with his coffee.
"I was telling Tony that Abby still feels as if someones watching her and is after her, and she'll be staying with me at the beach house for protection detail."
"Aren't the Vikirnovs watching her place?"
"Yes, but she told me she doesn't feel safe there. And now Tony thinks I'm some alien from the X files because I mentioned that the Gen Tech whack jobs need to be stopped permanently, or they'll continue what they are doing now. They won't stop unless they're eliminated."
"McGee does have a point, DiNozzo."
"I know, he does, but he's- McGee. The McGee I've known hasn't mentioned permanent annihilation. Stuff like that coming from a Geek is - scary."
THWACK!
"Ow! What's that one for?"
"Seriously think about that for a second, DiNozzo! Agents are missing, experiencing torture, experimented on, and some are getting killed. McGee was also tortured and experimented on. Do the math."
"Got it boss."
"Good.
McGee chuckled to himself as he contacted Hugh over his laptop.
Hugh
I need your help.
You got it bro. What do you need?
Abby is being watched. Again. I need to find out who.
On it. I'll let you know when it's taken care of.
Thanks Hugh. Appreciate the help.
Anytime. I'll be in touch soon.
Tim was smiling like an evil cheshire cat when he logged off the laptop. He knew what Hugh meant by "taking care" of the problem. Good. One less whack job to worry about. He had another job to take care of. He was going to hack in the Gen Tech computers and set it up so he could see their security surveillance. Then they could see what was going on NOW. One step closer to his goal. Eliminating Gen Tech. He was looking forward to that.
